When I was learning to breastfeed my first baby, I wasn’t all that shocked (well, maybe that’s a lie) at the cracking, scabbing and as-bad-as-labour searing pain that came with it for the first few weeks. I was, however, shocked that as an experienced exclusive breastfeeder the same thing happened when I began to nurse my second child. Granted, it didn’t last quite as long and it wasn’t quite as bad but holy bajeebus did it ever hurt. Without a lot of air drying, a little relief-pumping and some great natural products, there would have been a lot more screaming heard from my house.

You likely remember the recent headline news about the nipple cream for nursing moms that contained potentially harmful ingredients (chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol) that could cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. This product was taken off the market, thank goodness, and we’ve got a great alternative for you.

Nipple Nurture Butter and Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads from Bella B Natural Bodycare are 100% edible and are perfectly safe for newborns and moms.

Nipple Nurture Butter ($9.99 for 2 oz.) is a great lanolin-free alternative to other breastfeeding creams. Many people are unaware that lanolin comes from sheep’s wool. Nipple Nurture Butter is an excellent alternative for those that prefer a plant-based product. It contains only the very best natural ingredients including cocoa, shea and mango butter. All of the ingredients are food-grade and free of parabens (which, in case you didn’t know, are controversial but widely used artificial preservatives that are rapidly absorbed, have estrogenic activity and have been found in breast tumours).

Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads ($9.99 for 80 pads) are a clean, natural solution to cleaning nipples before and after breastfeeding (which I had never done prior to discovering these pads and still don’t do reguarly, but it’s lovely and would be especially awesome in times of thrush.) They not only clean tender nipples but provide excellent soothing and healing properties. Fortified with aloe vera, the cleaning solution is healing and refreshing to sore, cracked nipples.

Win it! One randomly selected winner will win one of each of these great products, together valued at $19.98. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon MST on July 25/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - WINNER EMAILED - Congrats Heather!

Living in one of the windier regions of Canada, I find I need to have several blankets on hand because they’re always blowing off and landing in the dirt.

For that reason and many more, I am loving my new Blanket Clipz from 3 Kids Designs. A simple but sturdy ribbon with clips at each end, Blanket Clipz keep my baby’s blanket on the stroller, car seat, swing, bouncy chair and shopping cart.

We’re all about multi-functional around here, and Blanket Clipz don’t disappoint. In addition to keeping blankets in place, they’re also great for clipping keys to my diaper bag so they won’t fall to the black hole, making a bib from any napkin or cloth and clipping a blanket to my shoulder for nursing privacy.

I’m sure there are more uses - I just haven’t discovered them yet!

Win it! We’ve got a pink camo set of Blanket Clips with your name on it. Well, maybe. If you win. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by noon MST on July 24/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED - WINNER EMAILED

I am often asked what inspired me to start The Opinionated Parent (mostly by people who don’t know what a blog is) and here’s the answer:

I am opinionated. Very, very opinionated. I always have been. When my firstborn arrived, I realized that I also had strong opinions about all of the “stuff” that comes along with parenthood. When I received the nursing pillow to end all nursing pillows (after having tried every one that’s available in local stores, so I do know what I’m talking about) I told everyone who would listen about how great it was. When I couldn’t find anyone else to listen, I started a blog.

And there you have it.

If you won’t listen, somebody else will. I will be heard.

(And I’m always right. Just ask my husband.)

My first ever post at the site now known as The Opinionated Parent was about The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow. I encourage you to go back and read this post about just how fantastic it is and all of the reasons why I love it. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, holding a baby, are pregnant (in my second pregnancy my Baby Buddy was a lifesaver and the only reason I was comfortable enough to sleep many nights!) or are simply cuddled up with a good book, I have no doubt that you will love The Baby Buddy too.

TOP readers always save 10% on their orders from TheBabyBuddy.ca with the code top10.

Win it! As the newest addition to our premium sponsors in the right sidebar and an exclusive “TOP Pick” of The Opinionated Parent, The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow is giving away one of these great pillows with the flannel or cotton pillowcase of the winner’s choice! To enter, visit TheBabyBuddy.ca to choose your favourite pillowcase fabric. Then come back and leave a comment on this post letting us know which one you’d choose if you’re the lucky winner. Contest closes at noon MST on June 26/08.

Additional entries available - up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Frozen peas, cabbage leaves, bags of lumpy ice cubes, warm washcloths or untimely hot showers? I have used most of these at one time for relief from engorgement or plugged milk ducts. And although they (sort of!) worked, they were not comfortable or convenient. Just one week ago our precious baby girl was born and now I am right in the middle of that plugged duct/engorgement stage. I think breastfeeding is wonderful, however, mastitis, plugged ducts, etc. are not quite so wonderful. But this time I have a solution.

Blossumz soothing breast therapy packs! These are warm/cool gel packs which provide relief and comfort for breastfeeding mothers and also for those who have undergone breast surgery. I have found the Blossumz gel packs extremely useful already and I have only been breastfeeding for one week. I’m sure they will get a lot more use throughout the next year as I continue to breastfeed our baby girl.

These are not just any gel packs though. They have some great features, such as: they provide generous coverage; they are light weight, the gel can be distributed in or out of the gel packs center (nipple area) according to personal preference, and of course the best part - they can be used over and over again. Blossumz also has 100% cotton covers available for the gel packs, and I found that the cover provided a nice, soft layer between the gel pack and my skin.

I found Blossumz gel packs very easy to use, extremely comfortable, and I give them a double thumbs up! - Andrea

Save 15% with the cide OPPROMO until July 31, 2008.

Win it! Blossumz is giving away a set of gel packs valued at $34.99. To enter, leave a comment on this post - one winner will be drawn at random after noon MST on June 12/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I can think of a lot of words to describe how I feel at this time in my life…nursing a newborn, recovering from a second unplanned c-section, mothering a teething toddler that still doesn’t sleep through the night. Frumpy and flabby come to mind. Sexy does not.

However, the nursing bra I’ve been wearing from Passion Spice is sure helping!

Passion Spice offers both Sexy (but still comfy and practical) Nursing Bras and Maternity Lingerie. All of their products are made with luxuriously soft fabric so you can add some spice to your life without compromising the comfort that you are totally entitled to when you’re pregnant or nursing.

I can personally vouch for the comfort of these bras. I need to keep ‘the girls’ hoisted 24/7 and my Passion Spice bra is comfortable enough to do the job. The wires don’t dig in at all but do add a lovely ‘lift & separate’ that I’ve been missing.

New Passion Spice owners Wes & Katy Linda provide fast and helpful service and look forward to helping you feel sexy during the most wonderful times of your life.

Win it! Passion Spice is giving away a sexy nursing bra and the matching bottoms of choice to one lucky TOP reader in your choice of style, colour & size. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the name of the bra style you’d choose if you win! (We don’t need you to advertise your size - we’ll contact you for that - just the style name will suffice!). Contest closes at noon MST on March 28, 2008.

Get additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

AND/OR

Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your new subscription.

Maximum three entries total per person.

Contest Closed - Congrats to Chelle who said ” OOoo those are sexy!!! Meow! hehe I like the Carla Nursing Bra in Pink! Crossing my toes I win this.”